BROOKINGS – Coronavirus isn’t only affecting sports that were supposed to be playing games right now. The South Dakota State football team had their spring football practices canceled because of it.

Every spring the Jackrabbits have 15 practices. SDSU head coach John Stiegelmeier said that his team cannot use this as a break and need to keep improving.

“We told [the players] this has to be an unbelievable opportunity for us to do everything we can to get better. There are people that are wired to use opportunities to slack off. We just challenge the guys to say ‘we’re going to use this opportunity to get better.’ Whatever opportunities we have. Whatever situations we’re in,” Stiegelmeier said.

The Jacks have 30 incoming freshmen and have 24 redshirt freshmen. Stiegelmeier said this biggest impact of not having spring ball is the young guys not being able to get some work in with their teammates.

“I think [missing spring practices] is a lot bigger for the young guys. The guys who have had a taste of stuff and were looking to master offense, defense. Solidify themselves on the depth chart. The reality is everybody is in the same boat. Not only on our team, but in the Missouri Valley and on and on,” he said.

The NCAA ruled that this is now a dead period. Meaning no recruits can visit SDSU right now and coaches cannot call them. However, a coach can text a player and the players can call coaches.

“I think recruits feel the toughest because they are not able to get out and see four or five schools and kind of rank them. I don’t think it’s going to slow down, but I do think some young men are going to feel like they’re not ready to make a decision but they’re going to have to,” Stiegelmeier said.

SDSU lost two offensive linemen to graduation last season. It is one of the position groups that Stiegelmeier said needs to improve during the offseason.

“I think the o line needs to keep getting better and more functioning,” Stiegelmeier said. “It’s so important for those guys. They have to work so well together and I think that is one of the worst parts of no spring ball. Not having those 15 practices to know what the other guy is doing. It’s not that I think we’re not ready with the o line. I just think that’s a pretty common group to get better.”

The Jacks also lost their heart and soul of the defense to graduation in Christian Rozeboom. The middle linebacker had 364 tackles which is fourth in school history. Stiegelmeier said he expects fifth year senior Preston Tetzlaff to fill the void. Tetzlaff has mostly been a special teams player throughout his career.

“[Rozeboom’s] shoes are really tough to fill. Probably impossible to fill. If you think you’re going to have another Christian Rozeboom. Preston Tetzlaff has paid his dues. To me it’s his position to lose and I know he’s not going to relax. He’s the hardest working guy on our football team. So we’ll start there and see what happens,” Steigelmeier said.

SDSU had two freshmen quarterbacks play last season. J’Bore Gibbs started the first six games of the season before hurting his knee against North Dakota State. He threw for 1,058 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also ran for 88 yards and four touchdowns.

Keaton Heide started the final seven games for the Jacks. He threw for 1,072 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. It will be an open competition for the starting quarterback job in fall camp.

“I want J’Bore to be healthy so he can compete. That’s the first thing I’d like to see. I’d love to see a guy that emerges as a clear cut favorite. But on the other hand I love competition and I love believing in all of them. I want them to get a better handle on the offense with the new offensive coordinator coach Eck. I think there was a learning curve there. Probably just growth in the offense for all of them and somebody to emerge as the guy,” Stiegemeier said.

The Jacks are returning most of their offensive production from last season. They key will be for SDSU to stay healthy. Their top-two running backs, Pierre Strong Jr. and C.J. Wilson. Each missed the final two games of the season. 

Strong Jr. ran for 1,018 yards and eight touchdowns while Wilson ran for 491 yards and three touchdowns. SDSU will return their top receiver in Cade Johnson as well. He caught 72 passes for 1,222 yards and eight touchdowns. Cornerback Marshon Harris will be back after missing the first eight games last season. In four games last season he only had five tackles, but he played in 12 games in 2019 and had 40 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble.

Expectations will be sky high once again for the Jacks. Even with their depleted roster last season they went 8-4 in the regular season and got the No. 7 seed in the FCS Playoffs. Their season ended with a second round playoff loss to Northern Iowa. The goal for the Jacks in 2020 will be the same as it has been for the past couple years. Win a national championship.